The ongoing tussle for power in Indian hockey, between the K.P.S. Gill-led Indian Hockey Federation and the incumbent Hockey India, took a new turn on Tuesday with the sports ministry asking the latter to suspend its election process till further notice.
In a letter addressed to Hockey India secretary general Narinder Batra, the ministry said, “In the light of the high court judgment in the matter of Indian Hockey Federation... whereby the Hon’ble High Court has quashed the suspension and disaffiliation/de-recognition orders passed by Indian Olympic Association and Union of India, you are advised to not to take further action with regard to holding of elections till the entire matter is examined in consultation with law ministry.”
The development came hours after Hockey India had announced July 5, 2010, as the elections date and had also claimed to have support from the International Hockey Federation (FIH).
Earlier in his letter, FIH secretary general Peter L. Cohen reiterated that hockey’s revival in India continues to remain the world body’s prerogative.
“Hockey India is and remains the sole governing body for hockey, men and women, in India and thereafter Hockey India is administered in accordance with its statutes as approved by the FIH,” Cohen wrote on Tuesday.
“The interests of the FIH are to see Hockey India fully constituted and operating in accordance with its statutes so that the sport in India will develop and flourish. The FIH has no desire to penalise anyone, least of all the players,” he added.
Cohen, however, expressed disappointment at Hockey India’s inability to conduct the much-awaited elections before May 31 and said that the FIH could not grant any further extensions.
The controversial HI elections have run into a bad weather since their declaration and have been postponed thrice due to legal hurdles and other issues.
The polls were supposed to be held last year, but were pushed back to January 29 after HI failed to give a mandatory 21-days notice to the sports ministry for the same.
It was again deferred to February 7 because of a stay order from the Rajasthan high court after which the world body set May 31 as the final deadline.